A key 300-bed capacity Covid-19 isolation Centre in Mombasa County will soon be closed down following plans to re-open learning institutions in September this year.
The Technical university of Mombasa (TUM) which is currently being used as an isolation centre has outlined preliminary plans for re-opening the institution in September, hence the need to have it closed down to prepare it for use by students.
The University Vice Chancellor Professor Leila Abubakar said talks on re-opening are at an advanced stage with the Mombasa county government set to shut down the centre that was exclusively for Covid-19 patients at the institution, ahead of the re-opening.
“We have given the county government our engineering building for a short time to help accommodate Covid-19 patients and talks are underway to have the facility handed back to us,” said Abubakar.
Institutions of higher learning and schools in the country have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic that saw closure of all learning institutions in the country.
In March, the government suspended learning in all education institutions and ordered students to go home after recording the first three cases of coronavirus.
Prof Abubakar said the county government has confirmed it will close the isolation centre and hand it back to the university after fumigation.
She made the remarks on Wednesday during relief food distribution function to over 100 vulnerable families of the nearby Moroto slums and Nyumba ya Wazee in Tudor. The food and other items were donated by TUM staff.
Prof Abubakar disclosed that fourth year students will report first to allow them to sit for their final examinations while other students including the fresh intake will follow.
She said the university has a capacity of 15,000 students and it is therefore prudent to take necessary measures to ensure safety of students and maximum adherence of Covid-19 protocols.
The closure of the isolation centre is a big blow to the county government as all other health facilities in the coastal city which is battling with rising cases of the virus lack capacity to accommodate a bug number of Covid-19 patients.
By Mohamed Hassan
